MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on a European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy

11.3.2019 - (2019/2582(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Christian Ehler, Paul Rübig, Kathleen Van Brempt, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Fredrick Federley, Benedek Jávor, Dario Tamburrano, Barbara Kappelon behalf of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

B8‑0184/2019

European Parliament resolution on a European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy

(2019/2582(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission communication of 28 November 2018 entitled ‘A Clean Planet for all – A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy’ (COM(2018)0773),

–  having regard to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol thereto,

–  having regard to the Paris Agreement, Decision 1/CP.21, to the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UNFCCC and to the 11th Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP11), held in Paris, France from 30 November to 11 December 2015,

–  having regard to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

–  having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2018 on the 2018 UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland (COP24)[1],

–  having regard to the Clean Energy Package,

–  having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

1.  Welcomes the Commission communication on the long-term strategy ‘A Clean Planet for all – A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy’, which underlines the opportunities and challenges that the transformation towards a net-zero greenhouse gas economy brings to European citizens and Europe’s economy, and sets the basis for a wide debate involving EU institutions, national parliaments, the business sector, non-governmental organisations, cities and communities, as well as citizens;

2.  Believes that Europe can lead the way to climate neutrality by investing in innovative technological solutions, empowering citizens, and aligning action in key areas such as energy, industrial policy and research, while ensuring social fairness for a just transition;

3.  Agrees with the strategic areas identified by the Commission where joint action is required, and supports energy efficiency, the deployment of renewables and the global competitiveness of EU industry;

4.  Stresses the importance of the various climate measures and legislation introduced in different policy domains, but warns that a scattered approach might lead to inconsistencies and not to the EU achieving a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) economy by 2050; believes that an overarching approach needs to be taken;

5.  Agrees with the EU’s goal of achieving a net-zero GHG economy by 2050 as set out in the Commission’s communication; asks the Member States to agree on a strategy to achieve this goal at the special EU summit in Sibiu in May 2019, and calls on the Member States to commit to the required level of ambition in order to achieve this goal;

Energy policy

6.  Highlights the central role of energy in the transition towards a net-zero GHG economy;

7.  Recalls that the Union has managed to successfully decouple GHG emissions from economic growth in recent decades and has reduced emissions, particularly through energy efficiency and the penetration of renewables;

8.  Stresses that the clean energy transition should continue to spur the modernisation of the European economy, drive sustainable economic growth and bring societal and environmental benefits for European citizens;

9.  Believes that EU leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency demonstrates to other parts of the world that the clean energy transition is both possible and beneficial beyond the fight against climate change;

10.  Points out that achieving a net-zero GHG economy will require considerable additional investments in the EU’s energy system and related infrastructure compared to today’s baseline, in the range of EUR 175 to 290 billion a year;

11.  Stresses, in view of the different starting points of the energy transition, that efforts to reduce greenhouse gases with a view to achieving climate neutrality at EU level may be spread unevenly across the EU;

12.  Calls on the Member States to implement the Clean Energy Package without delay; recalls the competence of the Member States to decide on their energy mix within the EU climate and energy framework;

13.  Considers that technological developments and solutions, energy efficiency, sustainable renewable energy and the full integration of the internal energy market will be key;

14.  Underlines the need for an anticipatory approach to ensure a just transition for EU citizens and to support regions whose economies depend on activities linked to sectors or technologies that are expected to decline or will have to transform in the future;

15.  Calls on all levels of government, whether national, regional or local, to put in place measures to encourage the participation of citizens in the energy transition and to stimulate the exchange of best practices;

Industrial policy

16.  Reiterates that the transition towards a net-zero GHG economy presents challenges and opportunities for the EU, and that investments in industrial innovation, including digital technologies and clean technology, will be needed to spur growth, strengthen competitiveness, boost future skills and create millions of jobs, for example in a growing circular economy and bioeconomy;

17.  Believes that economic prosperity, global industrial competitiveness and climate policy are mutually reinforcing;

18.  Underlines that a stable and predictable energy and climate policy framework is key to providing much-needed investor confidence and to enabling European industries to make long-term investment decisions in Europe, since the lifetime of most industrial installations exceeds 20 years;

Research and innovation

19.  Underlines that EU and national research and innovation programmes are crucial to supporting the Union in its leading role in the fight against climate change;

20.  Believes that climate mainstreaming should be integrated adequately into the preparation and implementation of research and innovation programmes;

21.  Draws attention to the report of the High-Level Panel on Decarbonisation Pathways (HLP)[2] on the role of research and innovation in achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement while putting the EU at a competitive advantage in the decarbonisation race; notes the set of thematic and cross-cutting recommendations produced by the HLP, particularly with regard to the orientation of the new EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021-2027 – Horizon Europe;

22.  Considers that substantial research and innovation efforts will be required in the next two decades to make low- and zero-carbon solutions available to all and socially and economically viable, and to bring about new solutions for achieving a net-zero GHG economy;

23.  Underlines its position that Horizon Europe must contribute with at least 35 % of its expenditures supporting climate objectives as appropriate and as part of the general Union objective of mainstreaming climate actions;

 

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24.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

 

• [1] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0430.
• [2] Final Report of the High-Level Panel of the European Decarbonisation Pathways Initiative, European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, November 2018.